Time is running out, and donations are down for a Waterville charity busy packing Christmas boxes for 1,600 needy children across Maine.

The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers is appealing for more donations to make sure that no children go without this year.

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The Home for Little Wanderers began as an orphanage in the late 1800s, and today, its charitable mission is to provide help for needy families from Madawaska to South Berwick.

The Christmas gift boxes have been a 60-year tradition.

After word got out on Thursday that the program needed help, the organization said its phones have been ringing off the hook from people offering to donate.

On Friday, one woman came to the door with an envelope containing 20 $100 bills.

Now there is hope the organization will meet this year's need.

"Our biggest need right now are complete outfits of clothing," said Development Director Steve Mayberry.

"My assistant, Christine Sawyer is out shopping right now for clothes; other people are responding, also. We will meet out goal, but we need some help from the community and our friends," he added.

Debbie Ker dropped of several boxes filled with new pajamas. Ker said she works with various shelters across the state and has seen firsthand the importance of the gifts to the children.

"There was this little girl. She was in the hallway; she was just dancing and smiling, and those kids don't have anything, and I thought, 'Tonight this girl has a brand new pair of cozy pajamas and a book to call her own.' When you don't have things to call your own, when you get to hold something, it means something," said Ker.

Next Friday, athletes from Thomas College will load up the boxes and bring them to the Waterville and Augusta armories, from where they will be distributed to the families who signed up.